DATE=2/7/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=BRITAIN / HIJACK (L / 5TH UPDATE)
NUMBER=2-258912
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: More hostages have been released from a
hijacked Afghan airliner sitting at a London airport
since early in the day. Correspondent Laurie Kassman
in London reports eight people have been released at
the airport and negotiations continue to end the
hostage crisis. Twenty hostages were released at
stops before the plane reached London.
TEXT: Another two women and a man have been released,
bringing the total of those freed in London to eight.
Earlier, two men, a woman, and two infants were freed.
They appear to be from the same family. Police are
debriefing all eight at an undisclosed location.
That leaves nearly 160-people still on the plane,
including 14-crewmembers and at least six armed
hijackers.
Police officials continue their negotiations with the
hijackers. The talks have been described as very
delicate and at a critical stage. They say they will
work for as long as it takes to resolve the crisis
peacefully. But security forces are also on hand.
Deputy Chief Constable John Broughton of the Essex
County police force says the hijackers have not made
any political demands in London. But he says they
have asked for food and other supplies.
/// BROUGHTON ACT ///
As far as I know at this time, the only requests
that have been made are for food, fresh water,
medical supplies, and equipment, and also for
some provisional arrangement to improve the
sanitary conditions on board.
/// END ACT ///
Earlier in the day, a generator was hooked up to boost
the air conditioning inside the Afghan jet.
The airliner has been parked on the tarmac in a remote
area of the Stansted airport - about 40-kilometers
north of London.
// OPT // Airport official David Field says
operations at the main terminal are almost back to
normal, despite the hostage crisis.
/// FIELD ACT //
We believe that 80 to 90-percent of flights that
were planned for this afternoon are operating,
and we are hoping that will continue through the
evening.
/// END ACT // END OPT ///
The hijacked airliner arrived at the airport after
stops in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Russia. The
Ariana Airlines 7-2-7 jet was commandeered Sunday,
shortly after taking off from Kabul for the northern
city of Mazar-e-sharif. (SIGNED)
NEB/LMK/JWH/RAE
07-Feb-2000 12:37 PM EDT (07-Feb-2000 1737 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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